The Totoaba: A Silent Giant at Risk — Why What You Eat Matters
- Gabriela Carranza Castillo
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
The Sea of Cortez, known as “the aquarium of the world,” is home to an incredible variety of marine life — from playful sea lions to majestic whale sharks. But beneath the waves lies a fragile balance, and one of its most endangered creatures is the totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi), a fish few people know about… yet many unknowingly help push toward extinction.
🌊 What is the Totoaba?
The totoaba is a large fish endemic to the Gulf of California. It can grow over 2 meters long and weigh more than 100 kg. Once abundant, it has become critically endangered due to overfishing, driven largely by the illegal trade of its swim bladder, which is highly prized in black markets abroad.
But the danger doesn’t end there. The continued demand for totoaba also threatens the vaquita marina, a rare porpoise that often gets caught in the same illegal fishing nets. With fewer than 10 vaquitas left in the wild, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
🚫 What Can You Do?
One of the most powerful actions we can take as travelers, divers, or locals is simple:
Do not eat endangered species.
And that includes more than just the totoaba.
Every year, countless mantas, sharks, and even baby sharks (cazón) end up on restaurant menus along Mexico’s coasts. Sometimes they’re presented under different names. Sometimes people order them without knowing what they really are.
But here’s the truth:👉 If there are no consumers, there will be no sellers.
So next time you're browsing a menu or shopping at a fish market, please keep an eye out for the following species — and avoid them:
Totoaba
Manta ray / Mobula ray
Shark
Baby shark / Cazón
🐠 Respect the Ocean, Protect the Future
As divers and ocean lovers, we at Kraken Divers believe that exploring the sea also comes with a responsibility — to protect what we love. That includes making conscious choices even outside the water, like what we eat, what we support, and what we say no to.
Next time you’re at a restaurant and see one of these species on the menu, say something. Ask why it’s there. Choose something else. Your voice and your choice can make a real difference.
Let’s keep the ocean wild, alive, and full of wonders — for generations to come. 💙
🔗 Kraken Divers | La Ventana, Baja California SurOcean safaris, ethical snorkeling, marine education, and real connection with the sea.
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